A family business which spent 25 years trading from out-of-town locations has invested in Northallerton town centre.
Aquatic Finatic, a pet supplies business based a couple of miles south of the town, has opened a new store in the recently refurbished Zetland Street with Rishi's suport.
Pet Finatic was officially opened by Rishi.
Store owner Lin Fitch-Peyton said she felt there was an opportunity to serve their customers from a town centre location which was more convenient.
She said: “I see Pet Finatic as complementary to Aquatic Finatic in Thirsk Road. The opportunity to take on the premises in Zetland Street came up and I felt it was too good to miss.”
Major investment has been made in Zetland Street in the last year to improve links between the High Street and the new Treadmills development.
The new town-centre store will focus and on dog and cat food supplies and and pet accessories. The Thirsk Road base will remain focused on pond and aquarium fish, small animals and reptiles.
Lin said one additional member of staff had been taken on to assist with the new store. Over the last year she had used a range of Government Covid-19 economic support measures to sustain the business.
She added: “It was the 25th anniversary of Aquatic Finatic in April last year, just after we entered lockdown, so our planned celebrations didn’t take place as planned. But we are now looking forward to growing the business once more.”
Rishi said he was delighted to see investment in Northallerton town centre. “It has been a very tough year for town centres across the UK so it is great to have a business seeing the potential to develop its market in Northallerton.
“I wish Lin and her enthusiastic team the very best as the economic recovery gathers pace in the coming months.”
The new store is open Monday to Saturday 10.30am-5.30pm and on Sunday 10am-4pm
